Nick Cave will be recognised by the Royal College of Art (RCA) with an Honorary Doctorate later this month, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential and interdisciplinary artists of his generation.
The ceremony takes place on 23 September 2025 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where Cave will receive the honour from RCA Chancellor Sir Jony Ive. The doctorate will be awarded during the RCA’s graduation event for more than a thousand students from its Design and Communication schools.
“The RCA bestows Honorary Doctorates only on those who have made outstanding contributions to art, design and culture,” the institution notes.
A career without boundaries
Born in Warracknabeal, Australia, Nick Cave has been pushing artistic boundaries for more than four decades. He is best known as the frontman of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, the post-punk band whose catalogue has redefined alternative rock. Yet music is only part of Cave’s story.
Cave is also a prolific writer, publishing novels, screenplays and essays. His most recent book, Faith, Hope and Carnage (co-authored with Seán O’Hagan), earned widespread acclaim for its intimate reflections on grief, creativity and spirituality.
In recent years Cave has stepped further into the visual arts. In 2022 he debuted as a ceramic artist with The Devil – A Life, a collection of 17 hand-crafted figures inspired by the Staffordshire pottery he collects. The series reflected both his fascination with Victorian folk art and his ongoing exploration of morality and myth.
Recognition from the RCA
Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is consistently ranked among the world’s leading universities for art and design. Its alumni include David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Henry Moore, Ridley Scott, and Sir James Dyson. By choosing to honour Nick Cave, the RCA highlights not just his work in music but also his impact as a multidisciplinary artist who crosses boundaries between sound, literature and visual culture.
The award follows a string of recent recognition for Cave’s work outside music, underlining his growing presence in the art world. For RCA graduates, the event will also serve as a reminder of the value of creative risk-taking, something Cave has embodied throughout his career.
